Providence County Superior Court Chambers Communication Rules

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Email

An attorney seeking excusal must email the request to the presiding justice and serve the adverse attorney of record for every covered scheduled matter.

An attorney's request to be excused from attendance from the Superior Court shall be submitted by email to the presiding justice at SCExcusal@courts.ri.gov and shall be served in accordance with Rule 5 of the Superior Rules of Civil Procedure upon the attorney of record of the adverse party for all matters the moving attorney is scheduled to attend including every trial, hearing, motion, calendar call, status conference, and other proceeding preliminary to trial on the merits.

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Email to chambers

Before filing a dispositive motion, email Justice Licht requesting a hearing date and identify the dates for the motion, objection, and reply filings.

To schedule a dispositive motion, prior to filing the motion email Justice Licht at rlicht@courts.ri.gov with a copy to Brittany Moreau at bmoreau@courts.ri.gov requesting a hearing date and providing the dates when the motion, the objection and the reply will be filed and the Court will respond with a hearing date.

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Email to chambers

The scheduling order must be submitted to Justice Licht by email before it is e-filed.

Scheduling Orders will be in the format attached hereto and shall be submitted by email to Justice Licht in word format prior to e-filing.

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Email to clerk

An agreed continuance must be communicated to the Courtroom 4 clerk by email before the calendar call.

If the parties agree to a continuance, they shall notify the clerk prior to the calendar call by email to Courtroom4@courts.ri.gov, with the agreed upon date.

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Email

Counsel must notify the Court by email if changed circumstances prevent a previously scheduled disposition from proceeding.

Counsel must notify the Court via e-mail at Courtroom4@courts.ri.gov if circumstances have changed regarding any previously scheduled Disposition which would prevent the matter from going forward.

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Email to clerk

When the parties agree to a proposed disposition, they must email the clerk to request assignment to the disposition calendar on that date, subject to Court approval.

If the parties reach an agreed upon, proposed Disposition, they shall contact the clerk via e-mail at Courtroom4@courts.ri.gov to assign the case to the Disposition Calendar on their agreed-upon date, subject to Court scheduling approval.

Counsel must give the Court advance notice if a proposed disposition includes terms or considerations outside the normal range for the charges.

Counsel are required to inform the Court ahead of time should the proposed Disposition contain any provisions or considerations that are not within the normal/expected range for the type of charge(s) for which the defendant is entering a plea.

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Email to duty judge

Parties that reach a resolution must notify the court by email and file a dismissal stipulation.

If the parties reach a resolution, they must advise the Court by email to Courtroom4@courts.ri.gov and file a dismissal stipulation.

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Email to clerk

A scheduled motion automatically passes if the required status email is not received by 4:00 PM two business days before the hearing.

(e) If no email is received by 4:00 PM two business days before the day on which a motion is scheduled to be heard, the motion shall automatically pass.

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Email to clerk

In Kent, Washington, and Newport Counties, the moving party must email the appropriate Motion Calendar Clerk with the motion status by 4:00 PM two business days before the hearing.

(a) No later than 4:00 PM two business days before the day on which a motion is scheduled to be heard, the moving party shall email the Motion Calendar Clerk at: KentMotions@courts.ri.gov WashingtonMotions@courts.ri.gov NewportMotions@courts.ri.gov indicating the status of the scheduled motion.3

Matters involving self-represented litigants must be conducted in person with notice to all parties.

(e) All matters involving self-represented litigants will be conducted in-person with notice being given to all parties.

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Email to clerk

A motion automatically passes if no scheduling email is received by 4:00 PM two business days before the hearing.

(f) If no email is received by 4:00 PM two business days before the day on which a motion is scheduled to be heard, the motion shall automatically pass.

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Email to clerk

The moving party must promptly notify the Motion Calendar Clerk, with notice to opposing parties, when a motion will pass, be resolved by agreed order, or be decided on the filings because oral argument is not requested.

1. The moving party shall notify the Motion Calendar Clerk at the applicable email address with notice to the opposing party(ies) as soon as possible if the motion will: (a) pass, (b) be resolved through an agreed order to enter, or (c) if the parties do not request oral argument, in which case the motion will be decided on the filings.

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Email to clerk

A party disputing the moving party's scheduling email must notify the Motion Calendar Clerk and opposing parties by 4:00 PM one business day before the hearing, causing the matter to be treated as ready and contested at an in-person hearing.

2. If any party disagrees with the substance of an email sent by the moving party, that party shall so indicate in an email to the Motion Calendar Clerk at the applicable email address with notice to the opposing party(ies), sent by 4:00 PM one business day before the day on which the motion is to be heard. In such event, the motion shall be considered ready/contested at an in-person hearing.

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Email to clerk

To obtain the next available hearing date for a dispositive motion, the moving party must email the appropriate Motion Calendar Clerk address.

To obtain the next available hearing date for a dispositive motion,6 the moving party must email the Motion Calendar Clerk at: provmotions@courts.ri.gov; kentmotions@courts.ri.gov; washingtonmotions@courts.ri.gov; newportmotions@courts.ri.gov.

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Email

A request for a filing-deadline extension or hearing continuance must be emailed to both the Motion Calendar Clerk and the Hearing Justice with the specified information.

1. Parties shall request an extension of a filing deadline or continuance of a hearing date by emailing such request to the Motion Calendar Clerk and Hearing Justice at the applicable email address including the following information:

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Email

The request must be copied to every party, including self-represented litigants; when an email address is unavailable, it must be sent by the most efficient means reasonably capable of providing notice.

(b) Be copied to all parties in the case, including self-represented litigants. If there is no email address available, then the information must be sent by the most efficient means available to provide reasonable notice.

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Email to clerk

A copy of the order-form objection must be emailed to the Motion Calendar Clerk at the applicable email address.

Shall email a copy of the objection to the Motion Calendar Clerk at the applicable email address.

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Email to chambers

Alongside an agreed miscellaneous motion filing, counsel must email the court all assigned counsel's names and email addresses, a copy of the motion, and an order reflecting the parties' agreement.

Along with the filing, counsel is required to send an email to DailyCrim9@courts.ri.gov which shall include the following: 1) Name and email address of all counsel assigned to the case 2) Copy of the motion 3) An order reflecting the terms of the agreement relative to the motion

The movant must electronically notify the Clerk as soon as possible if the motion will pass, will be resolved by agreed order, or will not receive oral argument.

The Movant shall notify the Clerk electronically as soon as possible if a motion will pass, be resolved through an agreed order to enter, or if the parties do not request oral argument.

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Email to clerk

A movant may request a hearing date from the Clerk by emailing the request for placement on the Omnibus Calendar Assignment form.

The movant may request a hearing date to be placed on the Omnibus Calendar Assignment form from the Clerk by electronic mail.

After a trial judge is assigned, counsel must contact that judge's clerk to arrange a conference.

Once a trial judge is assigned to a case, counsel shall contact that judge's clerk to arrange a conference.

When a case is resolved, the parties must immediately notify the Medical Malpractice Supervising Judge and any assigned trial judge, even if the dismissal stipulation is not yet ready for filing.

If a case is resolved, even if dismissal stipulation is not ready for filing, parties shall immediately notify the Med/Mal Supervising Judge and the trial judge if one has been assigned.

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Email to duty judge

When the dismissal stipulation is filed, a copy must be emailed to the Medical Malpractice Supervising Judge and the judge's clerk.

When the dismissal stipulation is filed, a copy shall be e-mailed to the Med/Mal Supervising Judge and his or her clerk.

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Email to chambers

Emergency matters and conferences concerning new or pending cases may be scheduled by emailing Justice Licht.

Emergency matters and conferences on new or pending cases may be scheduled by emailing Justice Licht with a copy to Ms. Moreau.

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Email to clerk

Counsel may request a remote conference for illness or another confidential personal consideration by emailing Courtroom4@courts.ri.gov before the relevant calendar date.

Remote Conferences- Counsel may request a remote conference due to illness, or other personal consideration of a confidential nature, by emailing Courtroom4@courts.ri.gov in advance of the requested calendar that the matter appears on.

Counsel should contact the clerk ahead of time to add a beneficial same-day disposition to the calendar.

if circumstances are such that a same-day disposition is beneficial, counsel should make every effort to contact the clerk ahead of time to add the matter to the Disposition calendar.

A conference beginning before 9:30 AM must conclude by 9:25 AM.

Any conferences conducted before 9:30 AM shall conclude by 9:25 so as not to delay the call of the calendar at 9:30 AM.

The assigned Formal and Special Cause Calendar Clerk schedules emergency motions, evidentiary-hearing requests, and other matters requiring substantial time.

Emergency motions, requests for evidentiary hearings or any other matter that may require a substantial amount of time shall be scheduled by the Formal and Special Cause Calendar Clerk assigned to that particular calendar.

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Email to clerk

The scheduling email should describe the matter briefly and state the expected amount of time required.

The email should include a brief description of the matter to be heard as well as the expected length of time required.

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Email to clerk

If all parties agree to the Motion to Assign, the appellant must notify the Formal and Special Calendar Clerk by email and copy all other counsel.

If the Motion to Assign is by agreement of all parties, the Appellant shall notify the Formal and Special Calendar Clerk by email (copying all other counsel) that the Motion has been filed and agreed to by all parties.

Motions are heard in person at 9:30 AM unless the Hearing Justice, on their own initiative or a party's request, determines otherwise.

(d) All motions will be heard in-person unless the Hearing Justice, on his or her initiative or in response to a request by a party, determines otherwise. All motions will be heard at 9:30 AM.5

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Email to chambers

The agreement email should briefly describe the case and the basis for the proposed disposition.

The email should include a short description of the case and the basis for the proposed disposition.

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Email to clerk

The Med/Mal calendar clerk may be contacted by email.

The clerk may be contacted by e-mail.

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Email to chambers

Justice Licht will propose red-lined changes to the scheduling order and return it by email.

Justice Licht will propose red-lined changes and return the order by email.

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Email

A party concerned about a proposed scheduling-order change may request a WebEx conference by email.

If a party has a concern about any proposed change, a request for a WebEx conference can be made by email.

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Email to chambers

Procedural questions concerning the Out-County Business Calendar may be emailed to Justice Licht if all other parties are copied.

Any procedural questions concerning the Out-County Business Calendar may be posed to Justice Licht and Ms. Moreau by email, provided all other parties are copied.

Parties may request an in-person court conference between 8:45 and 9:15 AM for matters on that day’s calendar.

The parties to any control calendar or trial calendar call may request an in-person conference with the Court anytime between the 8:45 – 9:15 AM, for those matters on that day’s calendar.

Contact

Email to clerk

Counsel may request a remote conference by email in advance of the relevant calendar call for illness or another confidential personal consideration.

Counsel may request a remote conference due to illness, or other personal consideration of a confidential nature, by emailing Courtroom4@courts.ri.gov in advance of the requested calendar that the matter appears on.

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Email to clerk

Parties may email the clerk to request a conference about case status and a potential resolution.

The parties may contact the clerk at Courtroom4@courts.ri.gov to request a conference to discuss the status of their case and any potential resolution.

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Email to duty judge

Counsel in trial-ready cases may email the court to discuss assigning a trial judge to address pretrial motions or facilitate a resolution.

For cases that are ready for trial, counsel may contact the Court by email to discuss assigning matters to a trial judge to address any pre-trial motions that may help streamline the case or potentially lead to an agreed upon resolution.

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Email to clerk

Parties may email the clerk to discuss a potential bench trial with the court.

If the parties wish to explore the option of a bench trial, the parties may contact the clerk at Courtroom4@courts.ri.gov if they would like to discuss with the Court a potential bench trial.

Parties may contact the court in advance to request a conference or in-person appearance regarding an Arbitration Calendar matter.

If the parties wish to conference a particular matter, they may contact the court ahead of time to request a conference, or an in-person court appearance.

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Email to clerk

The Providence County Formal and Special Cause Calendar Clerk may be contacted by email for scheduling purposes.

The Formal and Special Cause Calendar Clerk may be contacted by email at: Providence County: FSCcalendar@courts.ri.gov

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Email to clerk

The Kent County Formal and Special Cause Calendar Clerk may be contacted by email for scheduling purposes.

The Formal and Special Cause Calendar Clerk may be contacted by email at: Kent County: KentMotions@courts.ri.gov

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Email to clerk

The Washington County Formal and Special Cause Calendar Clerk may be contacted by email for scheduling purposes.

The Formal and Special Cause Calendar Clerk may be contacted by email at: Washington County: WashingtonMotions@courts.ri.gov

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Email to clerk

The Newport County Formal and Special Cause Calendar Clerk may be contacted by email for scheduling purposes.

The Formal and Special Cause Calendar Clerk may be contacted by email at: Newport County: NewportMotions@courts.ri.gov

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Email to clerk

Defense counsel may email Deputy Clerk Erin Ferns to request that a pending case be scheduled before its presently scheduled hearing date.

If counsel has a pending case and would like it to be scheduled prior to the presently scheduled hearing date, defense counsel may notify Erin Ferns, Deputy Clerk in courtroom 5G via email at eferns@courts.ri.gov. Erin will schedule an agreed upon date for conference with the sitting Magistrate and AG in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines for in-person conferences.

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Email to chambers

Counsel may submit an agreement reached without court intervention to the court and the assigned duty judge.

If counsel are able to reach an agreement without court intervention, the parties may submit their proposal to the court at DailyCrim9@courts.ri.gov, as well as to the assigned duty judge for the scheduled appearance date.